☀︎ Authentic Engagement

☀︎ Art of Convening 20th Anniversary celebrations begin May 2024

☀︎ Authentic Engagement ☀︎ Art of Convening 20th Anniversary celebrations begin May 2024

The Art of Convening

The Future of Leadership Journey

What Is “Convening”?

“Convening is different from facilitation. Facilitators bring specific tools and skills necessary for any good meeting. Conveners align people on the intent of their gathering and set the conditions for mutual trust and respect, key to any collaborative engagement. Additionally, conveners invite participants to co-create the highest possible outcome for a meeting or gathering.”

-Craig Neal, Originator and Lead Author of
The Art of Convening book


Convening is a core expression of purposeful leadership.

Convening takes the potential in each person and amplifies it through connection and engagement.  Brain science shows that meeting performance and outcomes significantly improve when you take time to connect, even in the simplest of ways.  

At the heart of the matter is . . . creating powerful spaces of authentic engagement for learning, collaboration, and growth.

The Art of Convening (AoC) comprises a profound, yet simple practice, incorporating nine core elements of inner and outer work. Taken together, the AoC presents a demonstrated model of purposeful leadership that assists committed individuals discern new ways of being more effective relational leaders, while performing the inner work to become skilled and masterful conveners.

Whether you lead from the front or from within, the AoC programs will equip you to make a difference in any meeting or conversation–spanning your personal, professional and communal lives.

Because we are always in relationship, we are never not convening.

 The Art of Convening Path

The AoC program path consists of a series of courses through which participants study, apply, embody and master AoC principles, practices and concepts as a core expression of purposeful leadership. All AoC programs incorporate the “9 Aspects of Collaboration” of the Convening Wheel, while each offers deeper levels of learning experiences, from initial exploration to application through mastery and commitment.

  • AoC 101 Introduction to Convening

    This introductory course offers a self-paced, interactive exploration of the 9 Steps to Collaboration that augments the original Art of Convening book.

    On demand, Online

  • AoC 102 Applied Convening

    During this live, interactive 6-session course with a cohort of fellow learners, you will embody a sense of purposeful leadership as you begin to put the Art of Convening concepts into practice.

    Live, on Zoom

  • AoC 201 Mastering Convening

    This 11-session course serves as a coaching and mentoring forum, in which skilled conveners further incorporate Art of Convening concepts within their individual leadership and/or coaching work.

    Live, on Zoom

  • Advanced Convening Graduate Forum

    Advanced Convening Graduate Forum

    A learning lab for those with in-depth experience with AoC to cultivate the APPLICATION of AoC. This is about sustaining your advanced-level learning.



Request More Information

We look forward to helping you learn more about how we can best be of service to you and/or your organization.

Are you an individual leader interested in joining an upcoming online learning cohort?

Would you like a customized in-house learning program for your organization?

Testimonials

 

"CPL helped me use the Art of Convening to plan an important series of meetings that were much more successful as a result. I received feedback from participants that these meetings were among the most effective they’d ever experienced, and it was clear to me that they resulted in productive outcomes and very positive energy. The Art of Convening works, and CPL is a valuable partner!"

— Dave Rapaport, Ben & Jerry’s

"I came away from The Art of Convening Training (AoC) more energized, focused and ready to forge ahead with an appreciation of what was missing in our traditional approach to holding meetings. We have implemented the AoC within our organization and using the convening principles are gaining greater/deeper participation and collaboration in our meetings."

— General Manager, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services, Minnesota

“The Art of Convening was a gift to my professional and personal life! By the end of the program I was using the AoC principles to design my meetings and people actually started looking forward to attending! I am looking forward to being in touch with both Patricia and Craig to learn more to bring soul and breath back to board and meeting rooms!

— Cecily Victor, Berrett-Koehler Foundation